jaw. “I’ve heard you’re not too shabby at sneaking and picking locks. Are you up for it?”
Catching my gaze with his amber eyes, he smiles.
Doing a little breaking and entering will give us something to do while we’re trying to figure out how to investigate Rhiannon’s parents. It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve heard of a powerful couple of parents who put out a hit on someone who harmed their child. But if Rhiannon’s parents think sending someone to threaten me will keep me quiet, they’re sorely mistaken.
23
I’ve only been fake dating Ricardo for a few weeks, and I’ve already turned into a girl who waits for her boyfriend after every class. Imagine what it would be like if we were actually dating. Ugh, where is he? My fingers tap on my forearm as I scan the hall for a tall, ruddy brown figure whose strawberry brown curls are getting long enough to hang down over his forehead. I bet those curls would be silky soft wound between my fingers.
Pinching my eyes shut, I chastise myself. Get a hold of yourself, Charlotte. There is no earthly reason I should be thinking about Ricardo’s hair, even if it is dreamy. Er, well kept.
“What are you thinking about?” Adrienne asks from her spot leaning against the wall. “You’ve got a weird look on your face.”
“It’s her googly eye face. She must be thinking about Ricardo,” Genevieve says with a knowing look at my sister.
“Huh, so that’s how she looks when she’s in love,” Adrienne croons, teasing me.
Behind her, Mikhail’s mouth tilts up just slightly. Is he laughing at me?
“Shut up,” I say, willing my face not to betray my embarrassment. I am NOT in love with Ricardo. How absurd. His hair, maybe. Him? No freaking way.
“Sorry I’m late,” Ricardo says as he tucks his chin over my shoulder and slips his arms around my waist from behind.
I’m paralyzed as his scent of cardamom and vetiver floats around me, his hands like fire on my waist, his jaw resting against mine. His warmth permeates my form, short circuiting my brain. This is so bad.
Genevieve’s eyes flash. See? I know you.
Adrienne is giving us obvious hearty eyes as she and Ricardo chat.
Fighting a blush, I look away.
Ricardo banters with her as if it’s perfectly normal for him to carry on a conversation with his lithe frame draped over a girl’s. Mine. Actually, now that I think about it, it might be. After his first day at the school, I never paid that much attention to him. Until he started buddying up with my stepsister last semester. Okay, that’s not true. I noticed his shameless flirting with everything in a skirt the second day of freshman year. Everyone except me. His first day? I need to think about something else.
Adrienne is leaning into Mikhail’s hand where it’s wrapped around the nape of her neck. He almost smiles when she meets his eyes. They really are cute together. I’ll never forget the fear that skated across his face when we found her being choked to death last semester. Fear, and then rage. He pulled that ambassador off my sister and put him down so quickly I’m not even sure how he did it. Then he’d picked Adrienne up and cradled her limp body in his arms, his entire body rigid with tension. I’d known in that moment how much he cared for her. Enough to kill, if need be.
Will anyone ever care that much for me? Or me for someone else?
Genevieve’s French-accented tones cut into my spiraling thoughts. “I’m so glad we’re going out on Saturday. Couples night at the club is going to be très magnifique. Don’t you agree, Char? Plus, we haven’t been since last semester, and I’m dying for Ryou to see me in a flapper dress. What do you think, Adrienne? Mikhail?”
“I have received permission from the senator, yes. Mr. Hale will accompany us.”
My eyes flick to Bodyguard Steve. I bet he doesn’t swing dance, but I guess we’re going to find out. Friday night we’re busting out of this place and going to our favorite swing club. Coco. Zelda. Gloria. Louise. It’s been ages, and I miss it.
Now that Bodyguard Steve is involved, there’s no way to leave campus without him knowing. I’m positive Steve tells Daddy absolutely everything. He can’t be bought. I already probed the subject when I asked him to keep my almost nightly excursions to the security office a secret from Daddy. Bodyguard Steve didn’t so